Stay safe first
- If anyone is in danger, call 911.
- Move to a lit, visible place. In winter, get warm.
Check the easy options
- Try every door and window that is safe to reach.
- Call anyone who holds a key: a partner, a landlord, a neighbour.
- If you have a keypad or smart lock, try the app or the backup code.
Avoid the expensive mistakes
- Do not climb to an upper window.
- Do not force the door: a broken frame costs more than a locksmith.
- Do not accept help from someone who approaches you offering to open the door.
When you call
- Give the address and describe the lock and door.
- Ask for the service-call charge, the likely range and the arrival estimate.
- Have ID showing the address.
After you are in
- If a key is lost, rekey. If the lock is worn, replace it.
- If the door sticks, have the alignment checked.
What the dispatcher needs from you
Give the street address and unit, the type of door (deadbolt, knob, keypad, mortise), whether anyone is inside and whether the door is locked or only shut. Say if a child, a pet or something on the stove is behind the door, because that changes the priority and the method. A photo of the lock and door edge sent by text lets the technician bring the right tools on the first trip.
Why waiting is often cheaper than forcing it
In Scarborough we often see split door frames, bent latch plates and scratched windows caused by people trying to get in themselves. Those repairs cost more than a lockout call. If the lock is in good condition, a technician can usually open it without drilling, and the door works exactly as before.
Once the door is open
Ask the technician to check the latch and strike, because a door that needed help to open may already have been sticking. If the reason for the lockout was a lost key, decide on the spot whether to rekey. Our rekey or replace guide explains how to choose.
Need a locksmith? See our emergency locksmith and pricing and process pages.